Tuesday, August 7, 2012

THE NIGHT OF THE SWARM: An Open Letter to my Readers

Dear Friends of The Chathrand Voyage,

You’ve changed my life. You’ve found something to love in the huge, complex journey of these books, and affirmed the leap of faith I took ten years ago when I set out to do something different and incredibly tough in the world of epic fantasy. I can’t find the words to say what this has meant to me. So once more, thanks. 


Many of you are writing to ask about the publication date. I’ve held off posting an official announcement for one reason: I didn’t want to be wrong. The date’s been changed four times, and I didn’t want to say a word to anyone until I had firm and final dates from both Gollancz and Del Rey.


I have them now. The Night of the Swarm will be published October 25, 2012 by Gollancz (in the U.K.) and January 15, 2013 by Del Rey.
 

These delays have been heartbreaking for me. And while I can’t in good conscience discuss the reasons for them, I can say that they absolutely did not originate with me. I am not a fast writer by inclination, but I have met every deadline in this process, starting with the first draft of Swarm back in September 2011.

And now for some good news:

  • I will be posting excerpts and other goodies in the next couple of months ahead of the U.K. release. Check here, and on my blog.
  • I have started work on a brand new epic fantasy series. Entirely different but equally ambitious. I’m bursting to talk about it, but know better than to do so just yet.
  • Most importantly, I’m thrilled with the The Night of the Swarm. It’s a monster of a book, and I’m confident that it ends the Voyage in style.
This has been a long journey for me, too--nearly 10 years since I wrote the first draft of the first chapter of The Red Wolf Conspiracy. I wish I could bring Book Four to you sooner. I know what it’s like to wait for the end of a story you care about. 

Thank you for your many messages, for feeling the same urgency I do, and for all you've done to help the world discover my books.

           Robert V.S. Redick

29 comments:

Janeite42 said...

This is awesome news! Thanks so much for writing these marvelous books.

Aaron Jensen said...

Thank you! Love your books and can't wait to read book 4. The Chathrand Voyage is one of my favorite fantasy series.

Aaron Jensen said...

Thank you! Love your books and can't wait to read book 4. The Chathrand Voyage is one of my favorite fantasy series.

Micheal said...

I just started re-reading the first 3 books, and I'm looking forward to the 4th. Delays are unavoidable - let's celebrate the arrival!

Adam Roberts said...

Awesome news! I will be importing this to the US methinks, rather than wait for US release date ;) Thanks for letting us know, I've had it on preorder for quite a while now :)

Robert V.S. Redick said...

Thank you so much, friends. You give me strength. Onward ho!

Anonymous said...

Robert, can you per chance say when the Kindle edition will be available? I have been starting this series a week ago and am now in the middle of book 3.

This is now my fave series, it's far superior to A Song of Ice and Fire!

I think, I am with Michael, if I have to wait until October, I'm going to re-read the first three, this time a little slower.

Sarah Smith said...

Holding breath until the UK publication--like "Unknown", I won't wait for the US publication! Congratulations, Robert!

Robert V.S. Redick said...

Y'all are TOO KIND. :)

Orcworm, I think the UK Kindle version will come out in October and the US version in January, in each case alongside the physical books. That's just a guess, though; I'll see if I can find out.

Anonymous said...

I just finished book 3 and... me needs more!!!
Thank you Mr Redick for drawing me into that world :D

Robert V.S. Redick said...

Thank you, Anonymous! Please spread the word!

Anonymous said...

Robert, please keep us posted on the Kindle matter - I have the feeling that (since amazon.com is US) they may very well schedule the Kindle version to the U.S. publication.

In which case, I'm gonna jump out of a window! Without being bitten by a glass spider!

*sniffle*

Anonymous said...

Welp.

It's official. I'm addicted.

Instead of forcing a re-read, I just spend my last 70 GBP on the audiobooks.

However, I'm not going to suffer all alone, so I spread the drug on tumblr. :))

http://tinyurl.com/bq3pvre

Robert V.S. Redick said...

That's very cool, Orcworm. Thanks for taking the time to make that post! It's notoriously difficult to get answers to basic questions from Amazon, but I'll do my best. Idrolos, RVSR

ediFanoB said...

I know I'm a bit late but I want to say thank you for the official publishing date.
A long time ago I ordered a copy of THE NIGHT OF THE SWARM over at Amazon. After several months my pre order has been cancelled because the book has not been available.

So now I'm really happy with your announcement.

I look forward to read the final book in the series.

I will share word about the date and the upcoming events on your blog.

fish said...

Robert,

I'm sorry to pester you, but were you able to wring an answer from amazon?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting us know. I'm anxious for the last book. It will make great winter reading.

Unknown said...

This is the best news. I have followed the Chathrand from the very beginning. I am very pleased that you are not pulling a George R.R. Waiting too long for a series to be completed makes one lose interest as I have in a certain series. I can't wait to start your new series. You've got me hooked.

Robert V.S. Redick said...

To Orcworm, Fish, etc.: apologies for dropping this line of inquiry! Amazon has confirmed that the Kindle edition will be relesed at the same time as the U.S. edition, i.e., January 15. I know that's still a long ways off--believe me, I wish it were otherwise...!

And thanks to everybody once again for all the praise and support! I couldn't do this without you. Best wishes from Western Mass, folks--RVSR

Nathan Washor said...

Hey Robert,

I just got an email from UK Amazon that the hardcover is no longer available. A Paperback version is, but, but, but! No!!! Say it isn't so... I have the UK HC of the other three and was so looking forward to completing the set. I love your work. If this is true, it pisses me off to no end.

Nate

Jan-Michael said...

I have just discovered the same thing today!! Gollancz is REALLY letting me down..Several hardcovers in ongoing series have been cancelled in the past months. It's pathetic!! Please tell us Robert this is just some strange mistake on amazon's part...!

Robert V.S. Redick said...

Nate: I'm very sorry to say it's true. And it was Jan-Michel, not my publisher, who alerted me to this (and yesterday morning my publisher confirmed; no hardbacks at all).

There are times when you just want to throw bricks through all the windows you can find. This is one. I feel terrible for you folks, and for everyone who has been waiting for the hardback to complete their collection. As for me, I couldn't feel worse if I'd been kicked in the gut.

Just very sorry. Maybe, as Jan says, I'd sell well enough to merit hardback status if I were writing about sex and vampires. But I'd also be insane before I finished Book II, so I guess that's no solution.

Thank you for your kind words. I will keep writing the best stories I can no matter how they're published--you have my word on that. Rob

Nathan Washor said...

Rob,

Sorry to hear the bad news confirmed. I'm ticked at VG publishing for doing this to you and to us - your fans. The thing that gets me is why couldn't they even do a limited run for your most dedicated fans and collectors? They could triple the price and we'd pay it - they'd still make a profit or at least break even on it. To do this on the last book of the series is just a disgusting act against those who have shown to be the most dedicated to them (VG) and you. I think I just might download a torrent copy (something I never do) and send you an anonymous PayPal transaction just for the principal of it.

Nate

RVSR said...

Thanks, Nathan. I should add that Gollancz informs me that this has affected many writers across the Orion Publishing Group. I don't think the decision was made at the level of Gollancz at all. Margins on book sales are just very, very tight these days, unless you sell one or two orders of magnitude better than my books have thus far.

Nathan Washor said...

I understand. Kindles have killed the hardcover and are killing the softcover business as well. I still don't understand why they just can't sell it for more money though. I guess it must be all the crazy politics of book price fixing and Amazon again is probably to blame. I do hope they consider the limited edition route. I'm kind of sorry if I stirred up a hornets nest, but at the same time it was really crappy of them (sounds more like Orion than Gollancz) to do this. And you can count me as one who would buy a limited HC. Put me down for three - I'll find good homes for the other two.

Nathan Washor said...

Oh and I forgot to mention - I'd be happy to buy it direct from them or you cutting out the middleman and increasing their profits.

Robert V.S. Redick said...

Not a bad thing, agitating the occasional hornet. ;)

Louise, Edinburgh, Scotland said...

Dear Robert,

Just finished it - oh what a book. Sat up two nights in row devouring it. now I'll go back to the first book and start again - at a more leisurely pace. And what a terrific ending - I loved the whole thing - but you desrve special praise for that extraordinary denoument. Many, many thanks Robert. Looking forward very eagerly to your new project.

all best wishes

Anonymous said...

Project is announced and this time the Bank had decided uk dissertations bumper recruitment and plans to recruit approximately.